From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Delta State Government on Tuesday described as cheap lies and blackmail by Prof. Pat Utomi who had alleged that the state government denied Labour Party venue to hold its presidential campaign rally in the state.
The government insisted that it never denied the Labour Party and it’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi any venue in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba, Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, regretted that ten minutes after approving the Oshimili Arcade in Asaba and granting the party the necessary waiver, Prof. Utomi ran to the social media to spread lies that they were denied a venue.
Aniagwu maintained that LP ab-initio, did not apply to the state government for the use any facility, noting however that to demonstrate the state’s democratic credentials and avoid falling into a booby trap, the Arcade was approved even without the initial application.
“We waived the issue of the application which they should have done, we waived the payment, we even take responsibility to clean up the place after they used it.
“In spite of that, within ten minutes of making it available to them and ask them to take over the venue, Pat Utomi wanting to tell a lie, went to the social media and alleged that we denied them of the venue.
“They were to use the venue on Monday, it was on Sunday morning phone call they made that we acted upon. We knew what they wanted to do.
“They thought we would hold on to the fact that they didn’t apply, and then make it look like every person is their own, and they Asaba is shut down.
“So when they went to that venue, you saw the number they pulled. If it were to be before, it will be everywhere in the social media that Asaba is shut down.
“Prof. Pat Utomi and members of his party should know that our desire to rebuild Nigeria should not be based on lies and blackmail. Our desire to rebuild Nigeria must be based on truth and character.
“So the idea of Prof. Pat Utomi lying to Nigerians is not what we need as a country at this point in time, every political party should be free to campaign so long as you did not infringe on the right of every other person,” he said.